Boat Launching Mistakes to Avoid

Even the most experienced boaters can use some helpful tips, or friendly reminders when launching their boats. Failure to follow the basic guidelines can easily lead to a delay in your boating adventure, and to a further extent, serious damages to your boat or tow vehicle, making you cancel your long-awaited aquatic trip.

For you to successfully launch your boat, L&M Marine has rounded up some of the most common mistakes to avoid based on our experience and the stories our customers have shared with us. We are your local and most trusted boat dealer in Stapleton, AL, where we happily serve all those from Mobile, AL, and Pensacola, FL, too!

Using the Wrong Tow Vehicle

Before even hooking your boat behind your tow vehicle, make sure your truck, car, or SUV can handle the weight. This includes the total weight of your boat plus the trailer. Using a vehicle that doesn’t meet the total weight capacity creates an extremely dangerous situation not only when launching your boat, but while driving to get there—it is just a recipe for disaster. You can always check the tow weight capacity of your vehicle in the owner’s manual or by reaching out to its manufacturer.

Not Putting the Vehicle in Park

Backing up into the boat ramp to release your boat requires your full attention and it is not an easy task to do. As obvious as it may sound, do not forget to put your vehicle in park. Not doing so can result in the car moving backward into the water. So, if the intention is to get the boat in the water, and not your car, be sure to put your vehicle in park while the boat is being released. 

An additional tip is to roll down your windows, as this will easily let you see and hear what is going on behind you. Remember the ramp is wet and slippery and the vehicle might lose traction, so be aware of the entire process and try to maintain the balance of your tow vehicle.

Failure to Install the Boat Drain Plug

Last but certainly not least, our final tip is to double-check that your boat’s drain plug is installed before launching your boat. This is one of the most basic procedures in boating, but not so surprisingly, many boaters forget this step and are reminded as soon as the water starts invading their boat. Some boats may have more than one drain plug, so make sure to be aware of how many the boat you’ll be using has, especially when launching a new or borrowed boat.

There you go. We sure hope these tips help you safely launch your boat so you can head off to the ultimate boating adventure. For more information like this, or if you have any boat-related questions, don’t hesitate to contact L&M Marine. We are your favorite boat dealer in Stapleton, AL, and we take pride in also serving all those from Mobile, AL, and Pensacola, FL.